A fiery crash on Route 22 in Newark has left three people dead and two others critically injured.
The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office says that the crash happened around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday.
Taylor Hill, 19, Kamal Johnson, 18, and Nashawn Brooks, 20, died in the crash. Hill and Johnson died at the scene, while Brooks died about 12 hours later at University Hospital.
The prosecutor’s office says that the 19-year-old driver and another passenger sustained life-threatening injuries in the crash. They are in the hospital in critical condition.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, but officials say that speed does not appear to have been a factor.
Gov. Phil Murphy said at a press conference Wednesday that the victims were on their way back from Point Pleasant Beach, where over 1,000 people had gathered Tuesday night on the beach.
The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.